END OF SCHOOL YEAR

Southland Times, Issue 25546, 14 December 1944, Page 9

END OF SCHOOL YEAR

GORE HIGH SCHOOL BREAK-UP “To fit yourselves for the responsibilities that will be yours in the future you have a wonderful opportunity. I would impress on you to build up a high standard of education. We have a wonderful heritage to uphold.” These remarks were made by LieutenantColonel A. R. Cockerell, D. 5.0., who was the chief speaker at the break-up ceremony of the Gore High School yesterday. There was not the usual big attendance of pupils because a number have accepted work during the holiday season. Before the speeches and presentation of prizes, the rector (Mr E. H. W. Rowntree) read a list of former pupils who had died on active service. In extending a welcome to parents and friends of the school, the chairman of the Board of Governors (Mr E. C. Smith) said the future could be faced with the knowledge that the school would have the use of a “newold” building, made suitable for class and assembly work. There was every indication that the attendance would remain at the level of this year and would later increase. The position at the hostel had caused the rector and the staff some concern. There was already a waiting list which could not be accommodated, and the alterations in view would not be completed by the beginning of the first term. Everyone looked forward to the time when the announcement would be made that the plans for a new school were complete and the money was ready. TREND OF EDUCATION Speaking of the general trend of education, Mr Smith appealed to parents to follow the change in the syllabus and methods of ’presentation which were being gradually introduced so that they could sum up the value of the new system and enable pupils to take the best advantage of it. Education began in the home. Parents should be able to supplement the work undertaken at school. In traversing school mottoes, school influences and. his own experiences, Mr Smith asked the pupils to carry out in life what they had learned. “Don’t forget that deep down in our hearts there, are things that shape our lives,” he said. In enumerating the qualities that make up a strong character, Lieuten-ant-Colonel Cockerell said that one of the virtues was self-sacrifice. The greatest Man on earth had sacrificed His life. It was to God Himself, the pioneers of this country and the British Empire that we enjoyed such privileges in this country. To the sacrifices made by the men of the last war we owed a great deal. BUILDING OF CHARACTER There were many things in life which went to make up our education, he said. Pupils should study the newspapers every day, they should read the report of the Dumbarton Oaks Conference and they should travel. Another thing to aim at was the building up of character. It was so easy to do wrong. In some other countries everything was done by graft and this had led to wars. I Discipline was necessary in the army and was also necessary in civil life. There was also a danger of complacency. We in this country would have to assume greater responsibility for those in other lands. We had a part to play in improving their conditions. He could not see this war ending before 10 years. “We do hope that when you have shouldered your responsibilities you will see this does not happen again,” he said. “There are many developments which enable us to take a greater interest in our fellow men. The heritage of our lives is your future. Many of our | problems are due to selfishness. There are greater things than the material things.” Other qualities listed by the speaker were tolerance, the capacity to listen to the other person’s point of view, cooperation, honesty and loyalty. “I hope that God will give you strength to carry out the responsibilities placed upon you,” he said. A bouquet was presented to Mrs Cockerell by a pupil. Following is the list of prizes:— Form 6.—Dux of school, Neil Turnbull. Prox. accessit: Douglas Callender. Progress: W. Gee, D. Telford. Diligence: Ruth Smith, K. Torrance, C. P. Robertson. Special geography: L. Black. Form sA.—Helen Stalker 1, Ross Allison 2, Mary Shivas 3. Form sM.—Jessie Watters 1, Keith Monagan 2, lan Templeton 3. Progress: Derek Stringfellow. Diligence: Hugh Templeton, Betty Cockburn. Form sB.—Rowa King 1. Form sC.—Agnes Stiven 1, Lois Cunningham 2. Diligence: Pat Watt. Form sH.—Una Forbes 1. Form sT.—Lindsay Johnston 1. Form 4A.—Denise Shelton 1, Jean Shirley 2, Phyllis Dickison 3. Progress: L. Somerville. Diligence: Mavis Dickie and Molly Wayte. Form 4B.—Hillis Weir 1, D. Mclntyre 2, N. Clelland 3. Form 4C.—Catherine Baldwin 1, Daphne Greer 2, Ethel Gerken 3. Diligence: Coral Stuart. Form 4H.—Rosalie Stiven 1, June Chamberlain 2. Form 4T.—G. Collins 1, A. Aitken 2. Progress: D. Mouat. Form 3A.—R. Archer 1, Birnie Sanders 2, J. Thomson 3. Progress (languages): Alison Piercy. Commercial: Rae Collins. Trades: F. Inder. Diligence: Helen McArp. Form 3B.—Commercial: Mabel Heslip 1, Elsie McCord 2. Progress: Marjorie Christiansen. Form 3C.—Academic: Florence Kirkpatrick. Commercial: Mavis Hay. Rural: W. McKee. Progress: J. Marshall. Science: P. Goodwin. Form 3H.—S. Williams 1, . Law 2. Commercial: Audrey Dooley. Trades: D. Galletley. Diligence: J. Leitch and M. McGregor. Form 3T.—Rural: Colin Robertson. Academic: I. Heads. Home science: Lorna Cumming. Progress: H. Chittock. Commercial dux: Nathalie Craig. Higher Leaving Certificates.—L. Black, Alma Falconer, Leslie Fowler, W. Gee, Winnifred Liddell, Marylyn Mac Gibbon, A. C. Matheson, Ruth Smith, M. Robertson, D. Telford, K. Torrance, N. Turnbull, Isla Webb. Special prizes.—Margaret Wilson Memorial Prize for excellence in mathematics: Neil Turnbull. Parents’ Association Prize: Myrtle Blac!-. Early Settlers’ Prize: A. Moffitt and Gladys Young; rector’s prizes for head prefects: Marjorie Heads and Bruce Humphries. Deportment: Dorothy Mac Gibbon. Clark Shield for dressmaking: Agnes Stiven. Women’s Club Cup for flower display: Cargill House. Senior boy’s hostel prize: C. Robertson; intermediate, B. Telford; junior, Joyce Harvey and Jean Cross. Senior Rotary Club prize for debating: Malcolm Robertson; junior, Denise Shelton. Oliver Wilson Memorial Prize for debating: Cargill House. ExPuplls’ Prize, given by Miss Eva McDowall: J. Matheson. Cadets.—Best N.C.O. in area: Sergeant Ross Wilson. Most-improved N.C.0.: Corporal L. Thomson. Most improved N.C.O. in A.T.C.: Sergeant J. Matheson. Deportment strips—first year: Isla Webb, Agnes Stiven, Ailsa Osborne, Jean Shirley, Daphne Greer, Olive Gregory, Audrey Dooley, Glenlce Edwards, Florence Kirkpatrick, Rona McDonald, Elsie McCord, Francis Parker, Joyce Timpany, Birnie Sanders, Rae Collins, Cynthia Peirson, Jean Cross. Second or third strips: Helen Stalker. Marjorie Thorn, Edna Gourley, Frances Paterson, M. Dickie, Phylls Dickison, General helpfulness: G. Schmidt and R. Timmins.

Sports Trophies.—Senior girls’ championship: Nancy Poskitt. Senior boys’ championship: L. Black. Intermediate girls’ championship: Cynthia Peirson. Intermediate boys’ cb-mpionship: G. A. Collins. Junior girls’ championship: Rosalind Peirson. Junior boys' championship: J. Thomson. Peter Anderson Cup for junior handicap: Robin Archer. 1911 Cup for jumping: A. Tidy. Senior handicap: A. Matheson. Fleming Cup for cross country champion: L. Black. Pierce Cup for cricket: H. Templeton. Wylie Cup for hockey: M. Heads. Winner of cross-country race: S. Shirley. Senior girls’ swimming champion: J. de la Perrelle. Senior boys’ swimming champion: A. McPhee. Junior girls’ swimming champion: Jessie Watters. Junior boys’ swimming champion: F. Collet.